Atlas Forum

Title: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: ○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└ on November 04, 2008, 09:56:18 pm

Shays just conceded.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Хahar 🤔 on November 05, 2008, 01:25:08 am

Well, it was only a matter of time...

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: ag on November 05, 2008, 02:08:32 am

It's much worse: w/ 3? Reps going down in NY, the entire NY-NE area now has 3 Republicans and 49 Democrats, unless I am mistaken. Even if one adds NJ, it will still be staggering 8 Republicans and 57 Democrats.

Reps also lost NY Senate and DE House. I still don't know the results for PA, but if Dems manage to hold the House there (and don't lose ME), the only legislative chamber anywhere between DC and the Canadian border might be the PA Senate.

While it is still too early to call the Reps a regional party, it might be time to call it a regionless one :)

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Small Business Owner of Any Repute on November 05, 2008, 02:28:48 am

Who needs two parties to have a democracy? Not us.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: ag on November 05, 2008, 02:33:41 am

Perhaps, it's time to think of creating a new second party for the region?

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Хahar 🤔 on November 05, 2008, 02:35:57 am

Perhaps, it's time to think of creating a new second party for the region?

That's only worked twice in the last century, AFAIK (Farmer-Labor in MN and the NPL in ND).

The thing is, the conditions seem to be perfect here. NE does not have any real impediments to democracy (it is not the old Solid South). Given the near death of the R party in the region, it should not be hard to compete. And there are signs this is happening. There is Sanders (and a bunch of his supporters in VT legislature). There is Lieberman in CT. Actually, it seems an independent is managing to get into the MA House this time (still not called, though). The space is there - either the local Republicans do something, or it will be taken.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Хahar 🤔 on November 05, 2008, 02:58:59 am

Perhaps, it's time to think of creating a new second party for the region?

That's only worked twice in the last century, AFAIK (Farmer-Labor in MN and the NPL in ND).

The thing is, the conditions seem to be perfect here. NE does not have any real impediments to democracy (it is not the old Solid South). Given the near death of the R party in the region, it should not be hard to compete. And there are signs this is happening. There is Sanders (and a bunch of his supporters in VT legislature). There is Lieberman in CT. Actually, it seems an independent is managing to get into the MA House this time (still not called, though). The space is there - either the local Republicans do something, or it will be taken.

If somebody (say Chirsty Mihos) were to put up the money for a coherent anti-Democratic party, I'm sure it could be done: the Democrats have had their share of scandals. But they are also the party of incumbency, and they have the establishment on their side.

This one-party state is unnatural, but I think it's the Republicans who will fill the void, once they get competent leadership and some money. The two-party system is entrenched on all levels, and regional parties are very rare. Though it would bbe more fun to have one. :)

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Storebought on November 05, 2008, 03:01:53 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: ag on November 05, 2008, 03:07:12 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Or else, run a Communist slate in Cambridge :)

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: opebo on November 05, 2008, 03:12:40 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Don't blame the voters - the Republican Party just moved away from them both ideologically and geographically. A more reasonable two party system for the Northeast would be 'New' Democrat and Social Democrat.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Storebought on November 05, 2008, 03:19:46 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Don't blame the voters - the Republican Party just moved away from them both ideologically and geographically. A more reasonable two party system for the Northeast would be 'New' Democrat and Social Democrat.

Likely true. That still doesn't mean the rightists there, all 40 of them, aren't in fact "disenfranchised" by being a permanent helpless minority there.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: opebo on November 05, 2008, 03:25:02 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Don't blame the voters - the Republican Party just moved away from them both ideologically and geographically. A more reasonable two party system for the Northeast would be 'New' Democrat and Social Democrat.

Likely true. That still doesn't mean the rightists there, all 40 of them, aren't in fact "disenfranchised" by being a permanent helpless minority there.

Haha, just like millions of blacks in the South.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Хahar 🤔 on November 05, 2008, 03:26:51 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Don't blame the voters - the Republican Party just moved away from them both ideologically and geographically. A more reasonable two party system for the Northeast would be 'New' Democrat and Social Democrat.

Likely true. That still doesn't mean the rightists there, all 40 of them, aren't in fact "disenfranchised" by being a permanent helpless minority there.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Small Business Owner of Any Repute on November 05, 2008, 03:34:50 am

Meanwhile, here in the Commonwealth, Democrats picked up 3 more seats in the State House: 8th Middlesex, 2nd Bristol, and 2nd Hampden. All were open GOP held seats. Republicans are now pushed back to 16 out of 160.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Storebought on November 05, 2008, 03:38:15 am

The thought of any place as populated as New England voting single-party in the 21st century is beyond repugnant. Perhaps we will need to bus twenty-something Freedom Riders at the risk of their lives into the region to register suppressed right-leaning voters there.

Don't blame the voters - the Republican Party just moved away from them both ideologically and geographically. A more reasonable two party system for the Northeast would be 'New' Democrat and Social Democrat.

Likely true. That still doesn't mean the rightists there, all 40 of them, aren't in fact "disenfranchised" by being a permanent helpless minority there.

Haha, just like millions of blacks in the South.

I thought it was plain that I was being facetious.

But even after these votes are tallied, there are still some million+ McCain voters in MA+RI alone. A decided electoral minority, but not a small one. Not that that matters any.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Хahar 🤔 on November 05, 2008, 03:41:38 am

Meanwhile, here in the Commonwealth, Democrats picked up 3 more seats in the State House: 8th Middlesex, 2nd Bristol, and 2nd Hampden. All were open GOP held seats. Republicans are now pushed back to 16 out of 160.

A regional party sounds interesting. I could see a new, credible libertarian-leaning party rising in NY-NE. They could pick off 7-8 House seats & 1-2 Senate seats. Maybe even become the dominant party in NH. :D

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: Brittain33 on November 05, 2008, 08:42:00 am

Meanwhile, here in the Commonwealth, Democrats picked up 3 more seats in the State House: 8th Middlesex, 2nd Bristol, and 2nd Hampden. All were open GOP held seats. Republicans are now pushed back to 16 out of 160.

LOL.

Apres eux, le deluge.

Now that Republicans aren't making a stand on social issues, let's hope they can do something about corruption and make themselves viable that way. We need it.

Title: Re: New England now free of Republicans in Congress
Post by: JSojourner on November 05, 2008, 04:20:30 pm

Well, technically...isn't "The Congress" both the House and Senate? In which case, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and Judd Gregg remain as Republican voices (albeit moderate ones) in New England.